Perhaps the most unfortunate aspect of being a long term expat in Thailand is watching fellow westerners self-destruct. It was well over a decade ago that I witnessed my first, and just recently the last.

It was their flagship performance car of 1999. and frankly that transmission in stock form sucked. But Zak waved his magic wand and now it’s better. It’s what it always should have been. And in the process I had the opportunity to meet and work with two very talented and honest mechanics and businessmen Zak and Peter.

Sit back, and let someone who is retired military with four years as a police office in a big California city, a lifetime gun owner, and gasp even an NRA member tell you some things that really will work. You’re going to be angry, surprised, you might throw things against the wall. But if you’re honest with yourself you’ll see I’m at least mostly right.

Yet, maybe because I tend to be introspective to a fault I found myself still wondering if I’d ever find satisfactory answers to a list of questions I’d made up I based these questions on the grass is greener syndrome and titled them Expectations USA.

There is just so much to list, so many contributors to thank, and a large number of new users for 2011. But you’re wondering, what about our numbers? I’m pleased to say our site traffic has increased 300% in just 2011 alone!

Many times it’s been said that which makes us afraid, or in this case uncomfortable, is the unknown. Not knowing what a reconditioned product really is, how old it’s allowed to be, what’s done to bring it back up to standards, and how it affects our warranty.